ICATUS 2012 Session 4: Classification of non-productive activities

United Nations Expert Group Meeting on the Revision of ICATUS, 11- 13 June 2012, New York

ICATUS 2012

Session 4: Classification of non-productive activities

Rachid Bouhia [email protected]

Social and Housing Statistics Section


Classification of non-productive activities Goal of my presentationOverview of the classification of non-productive activities in ICATUS 2012Extensive part of ICATUS: focus on the adjustments with regard to ICATUS 2005

What is a “non-productive” activity?“third-party”criterion but many limitations


Limitations and underlying conventions Personal services (washing, shaving…) can be provided by a

third-party

Shopping: exception of medical and personal care services

Attachment of emotional or subjective values to the activity: “birthday cake”, hobbies which can be potentially productive

If an “output” is produced, the activity should be classified into the appropriate “productive activities” categories regardless of the utility deriving from it, but some uncertainties remain


Main issues in ICATUS regarding non-productive activities Those limitations reflect the “main general difficulty” which applies

to many activities: how to arrange activities at the borderline in the most effective way?

Specific criteria applied to update this area ICATUS:• Exhaustiveness: “Broom-Wagon”• Improve the mutually exclusivity in regard to the related

activities in the “productive” area• Avoiding duplications: associated activities should stand in the

same place• Flexibility: leave room for cultural adaptations (particularly

sensitive)


FrameworkI. Actions on the first level1. Creation of the major division “Leisure and sports”2. Transfer of “religious activities”

II. Actions on the 2nd and 3rd levels1. Strengthening the major division “Learning”2. Restructuring the major division “Socializing, community

participation and religious activities”3. Specific features of the new major division “Leisure and sports”4. Focus on the activity “Waiting” in “Personal care”


Framework Provide the main justification supporting our

proposals Introduce other potential alternatives

All the proposals are open to discussion




participation and religious activities”3. Specific features of the new major division “Leisure and sports””4. Focus on the activity “Waiting” in “Personal care”


Creation of the major division “leisure and sports”ICATUS 2005

09 Learning10 Socializing and community participation11 Attending/visiting cultural, entertainment and sports events/venues12 Hobbies, games and other pastime activities13 Indoor and outdoor sports participation and related courses14 Mass media15 Personal care and maintenance

ICATUS 20125 Learning6 Socializing, community participation

and religious activities

7. Leisure and sports

8 Personal care and maintenance


Creation of the major division “leisure and sports”Pros To be more handy to use, less complex to apprehend the essence

of the classification

To save levels: In ICATUS 2005, level 5 = level 4 (unbalanced with other major divisions)

To keep leisure activities generic enough for national adjustments

To reach a decimal-based classification


Creation of the major division “leisure and sports”

Cons Might sound too broad or “mysterious”

But the 2nd level provides a clear idea of its content


Transfer of “religious activities”ICATUS 2005

09 Learning10 Socializing and community participation11 Attending/visiting cultural, entertainment and sports events/venues12 Hobbies, games and other pastime activities13 Indoor and outdoor sports participation and related courses14 Mass media15 Personal care and maintenance

ICATUS 20125 Learning6 Socializing, community participation

and religious activities

7. Leisure and sports



Transfer of “religious activities” Difficult topic because depend on how “religions” are defined,

perceived and practised from country to country (socializing activities, personal care, education…)

Issues in ICATUS 2005: • Collective religious activities were classified into personal care• No clear distinction/ duplications with “Participation in community

cultural/social event”• Even private religious activities can be argued not to belong to

“personal care” since they do not meet a physiological need comparable to eating, washing etc…


Transfer of “religious activities” Comments advocate to separate collective activities

from private: 3rd level• “641 Private prayer, meditation and other informal

spiritual activities” only includes religious activities practiced alone (cf. detailed ICATUS 2012)

• “642 Participating in religious activities” covers collective religious activities

We wanted to keep them in the same location


Transfer of “religious activities”

Contextual variables needed for religious activities:

“With whom” (private/collective)

“Location” (home/place of worship)




participation and religious activities”3. Specific features of the new major division “Leisure and sports”4. Focus on the activity “Waiting” in “Personal care”


Strengthening the major division “Learning”ICATUS 2012

5 Learning51 General education52 Homework, course review, research and activities related to

general education53 Additional study, non-formal education and courses during free

time58 Travel related to learning 5x Other activities related to learning (n.e.c)






•Scope not well-delimited in ICATUS 2005•Restricted to “Formal education” as defined by ISCED






•Result from the merge of “Additional study, non formal education and courses during free time” and “Career/professional development training and studies”

•The logic of the differentiation was not clear: to what extent computing courses are for professional development rather than additional study?

•Especially, courses as hobbies are classified under “Technical hobbies and related courses”






Still some difficulty remains to differentiate courses in this category from the ones which should be reported in:

• “11 Work for corporations/quasi corporations, non-profit institutions and government (“formal sector” work)”

• “72 Hobbies, games and other pastime activities “


Strengthening the major division “Learning”

Contextual information needed for “learning”:

“Type of education” (ISCED/not ISCED)

“Location” (school institution/home/workplace)

“Using computer/Internet” (for group: Self-study for distance education)


Restructuring the major division “Socializing, community participation and religious activities”

ICATUS 2012

6 Socializing, community participation and religious activities61 Socializing and communication62 Participating in community cultural/social events63 Involvement in civic and related responsibilities 64 Religious activities68 Travel related to socializing, community participation and religious

activities6x Other activities related to socializing, community participation and

religious activities (n.e.c)

Used to be classified into “Providing community services and help to other households


Restructuring the major division “Socializing, community participation and religious activities”

ICATUS 2012

6 Socializing, community participation and religious activities61 Socializing and communication62 Participating in community cultural/social events63 Involvement in civic and related responsibilities 64 Religious activities68 Travel related to socializing, community participation and religious

activities6x Other activities related to socializing, community participation and

religious activities (n.e.c)

62 Participating in community cultural/social events 620 Participating in community cultural/social events

No longer distinction between “cultural/historic events” versus “rites/events (non-religious) of weddings, funerals, birth and similar rites-of passage” versus “social functions (music/dance)”

Still covers participation in religion-related events when the respondent does not consider it a practice


Specific features of the new major division “Leisure and sports”

ICATUS 2012

7 Leisure and sports71 Attending/visiting cultural, entertainment and sports events/venues72 Hobbies, games and other pastime activities 73 Indoor and outdoor sports participation 74 Mass media 78 Travel related to leisure and sports activities7x Other activities related to leisure and sports (n.e.c)



ICATUS 2012


Contextual variable: “Using computer and/or Internet”

•Flexibility•Long-term



ICATUS 2012


“Window-Shopping”


Focus on the activity “Waiting” in “Personal careICATUS 2012


85 Activities associated with resting, relaxing851 Doing nothing; resting, relaxing852 Smoking853 Reflecting/meditating, thinking, planning85x Other activities related to resting, relaxing (n.e.c)

“Waiting” reported as “doing nothing”


Session 4: Classification of non-productive activities (C. personal activities)

Thank you for your questions and comments

Documents

ICATUS 2012 Session 4: Classification of non-productive activities